The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-22
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Edward Atkinson's Report Of His
Government Mission Abroad.
The Nomination OF Judge cleaves
Confirmed In the Senate.

The Nomination OF Judge cIeaves
Confirmed In the Senate.
Latest Report Of the Purpose OF
Chamberlaln's Canadian Visit.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2i.--Congress has re-
ceived communication from the President
containing the report of Edward Atkinson
of Boston, specially designated by Congress
to visit the financial centres of Europe to
ascertain the feasibility Of establishing, by
international standard, a fixity Of ratio be-
tween gold and silver and the free coinage OF
both. Atkinson reports no present dispose
tion upon the part of European nations 70
take action which could affect financial con-
ditions In this country. None of the Eu-
ropean governments now seriously consider
the proposition for an international agree
ment upon the comparative value OF gold
and silver, or any movement IN the dlrectlon
of International bi-metallism. He thinks II
would be unwise for the United States again
to take the initiative In the matter, as such
action, If misconstrued, might tend to retard
the object aimed at.
Surveyor Cleaves Confirmed.
The Senate has confirmed the nominations
Of II. NJ. Sewall Of Bath, Me-, to be Consul
General at Apia, and Nathan Cleayes to be
Surveyor Of Customs at Portland, Me.
Watching for the Balgians.
Secretary Fairchild took official notice to-
day of the report that 1000 Belgian miners
are to be imported to take the place of the
miners in the Lehigb region now on a strike,
and sent kilograms to the collectors OF GUS
toms at New York, Philadelphia, Boston
and Baltimore, calling attention to the re-
port and instructing them to be vigilant In
preventing any violation OF the alien con-
tract labor law.
Maine Post offices.
John f. Lynch has been commissioned
acting postmaster at Machias.
The following change is announced in the
star service Of Maine: Route 394-Kingman
to Haynesville. Permit postmasters at King
man and Haynesville to deliver the mail 20
the carrier 80 minutes in advance of schedule
time, provided no connection be broken.
John Learie has been appointed postmaster
at East Hampden. Maine.
chamberIain's Trip.
The Star this evening says that the pur-
pose of Chamberlain's visit TO Canada is to
urge the Canadian authorities to yield to the
demands of the government in the disputed
fisheries question. The conferences at the
State Department demonstrated that this
government would not yield ANYTHING from ron
the position occupied from the first The
department is in position to demand privi-
leges for their fishermen, which they claim
as a right, and there can be no settlement
except by Canada's according these priv
ileges.
Pensions have been awarded the follow
ing Maine people:
ORIGINAL.
Judson Gray, sargentvllle.
Abram Peters, navy, South warren.
INCREASE.
Elisha Heath, Jr., Sherman Mills.
Hugh McIntire, Togus.
william Fl. Stanhope, Dennysvllle.
Patrick O'Connor, National Military Home.
John Madden, National Military Home.
0rien b. Spiller, Webb's Mills
REISSUE AND INCREASE.
Dexter Heal, Searsmont.
Ephraim L. Severance, Milo.
REISSUE.
Mark c. Cass, Pittston.
George G. Daniels, Lewiston.
Bits of Information.
The Secretary of the Treasury today
issued an order that all custom houses
throughout the country be closed on the 26th
of December and I'd of January. A similar
order was issued in regard to navy yards.
The report of the commission 10 inyestl-
gate the Pacific railroads will not be sent TO
Congress until after the recess.
The Comptroller Of the Currency has ap-
pointed Michael +. Dooley, of Hartford,
Examiner of National Banks for the States
of Connecticut and Rhode Island, in place
of James w. Hyatt, resigned to accept the
appointment of United States Treasurer.
An Enabling Act for Dakota.
New YORK, Dec. 21.-A Washington spe-
cial says: "Mr. Springer, chairman Of the
House Committee on Territories, Is prepar-
ing for introduction on the first bill day in
the House an enabling act for Dakota to be-
come State
How IL May Result.
The impression of those who best under
stand the situation is that the ways and
means committee will report late in Janua-
ry bill abolishing the tax ON tobacco and
reducing the tariff on Mills and the Presi-
dents plan; that this bill will be debated
four weeks, and amended in many items as
the bill is considered in.detail in committee,
and then passed by the House by narrow
vote and sent to the senate. That then the
Senate will take the bill and recast 1t on the
Republican idea, and that then the bill will
60 back to the House and into conference,
and that the House will finally pass a bill
very near the Republican idea by vote of
the Republicans and Randall protective
Democrats.
If such bill should pass, the President
would be compelled either to sign il and
swallow his free trade message, or else take
the responsibility Of preventing any reduc-
tion Of the revenue
French SpoIIatlon Claims.
There is finally prospect that some one
will realize upon the ancient and long de-
ferred French spoliation claims, the House
on Monday, having passed resolution di-
recting the Committee on Appropriations to
report such of the claims as have been de-
cided favorably to the claimants by the
Court Of Claims, in the general deficiency
bill. The claims already ajudicated by the
court amount to 44S, 900, and the total amount
involved in the claims is variously estimated
S10000000, at the highest, will cover all the
claims that eau be proved The original
claimants having all passed away, their le-
gal representatives, In majority OF the
cases, lind it almost impossible to procure
the evidence necessary to substantiate their
claims. which they know to exist largely
from family traditions. Many claimants
imagine that the proofs in all the cases are
on file in the State Departments, but careful
search discloses that nothing can be found
there touching one-tenth Of the claims filed.
The government has been so tardy in its
justice to these worthy claimants (the claims
being now over eighty years old, that many
Of them became discouraged years ago, and
abandoned their proofs or assigned their
clai us for nominal considerations. The
State Department, since the passage of the
law referring the claims to the Court of
Claims. has placed all the evidence In its
archives at the disposal of claimants, and
the Court of Claims has heard them under
most lenient rules as to the production of
evidence but it cannot, of course, allow
claims upon the mere presentation Of peti-
tions. The fact that Congress by its action,
Monday, shows a disposition to pay the
claims, will undoubtedly spur the claimants
to renewed efforts. 1t may be added In this
connection, Congress will probably extend
the time for filing the claims for further
period of twelve mouths. bill to that effect
having already been introduced in the Sem
ate, and a similar bill will be presented in
the House at the proper time.
HURRICANE SWEPT.